Latest Update on Turkey's Weather-Related Tragedy
It's heartbreaking news coming out of Turkey, where at least nine lives have been tragically lost due to the relentless fury of recent storms and heavy rainfall. The Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, has confirmed four of these deaths in the province of Zonguldak, located in north-western Turkey. The province of Batman and Diyarbakir in the south-eastern part of the country have also been struck by floods, leading to five further casualties, including three innocent children.
In an additional grim development, a Turkish cargo ship with twelve crew members on board was swept away by the storm in the Black Sea on Sunday. As of Monday morning, the body of a sailor was retrieved off the port city of Eregli in Zonguldak, and the search for the remaining eleven crew members has now commenced.
Unfortunately, the seas have not spared another vessel this time. A Cameroonian freighter encountered difficulties off the Turkish Black Sea coast on Sunday and was ultimately destroyed by the merciless waves. Remarkably, the crew was able to make it to safety beforehand.
According to the Interior Minister, the storm's ferocious winds reached speeds of 130 to 140 kilometers per hour and generated waves of up to eight to nine meters in height.
The storms appear to have taken an especially grueling toll on seafarers, leaving at least eleven individuals mourned, including nine from Turkey and two from the Cameroonian vessel. While one body has been discovered, the remaining eleven Turkish sailors remain, as yet, unaccounted for.
Further Insights
While sources do not provide details about the severe storms and heavy rain in Turkey, there are reports of potentially harrowing conditions affecting the city of Istanbul. Forecasters have warned of potential snowfall accumulations of up to 100 cm over the course of February 18 to 24, accompanied by sharp temperature drops and high humidity levels. Local authorities are closely monitoring the situation, preparing for possible disruptions to daily life from road closures, transportation delays, and power outages.
Sources: [1]
